Apple

I always forget how great iPhone games can look. Playing on those postage stamp-sized mobile screens makes you accustomed to certain things with cell phone games, but the more I see what’s out there for Apple’s do-everything hand-held, the more I’m impressed.

When it comes to Terminator Salvation, the game runs amazingly well using a control scheme similar toBrothers in Arms: Hour of Heroes. Players move around with a virtual control stick on the left corner of the screen. They shoot enemies with a virtual fire button on the right-hand side.

A 10 out of 30?! You’ve gotta be kidding … Steve Wozniak deserves better than that! Wozniak is no Master P, who once got an 8, during Season 2.

Karina Smirnoff and Steve Wozniak (ABC.go.com)

Woz is a warrior fighting though injuries and that should count for something.

Despite being nailed by the “Dancing With the Stars” curse (twice!), he sambas on through the pain, with a smile on his face … last week, a fractured foot; this week a pulled hamstring. Sure, it wasn’t a great dance; but it was entertaining — and he gave it his all.

The hypocritical judges gave competitor Steve-O nothing but compliments (and a 15 score) for dancing through his back injury and trying his best. But for Steve W? He gets a score of 10 from the judges who continue to insult his genuine efforts. “At some point, the novelty wears off,” said judge Carrie Ann Inaba.

Maybe the “worst samba” ever, said Bruno Tonielli.

The crowd rightfully booed the judges. VOTE FOR WOZ! VOTE FOR WOZ! It may be a sympathy vote, but it is a well-deserved sympathy vote.

Sometimes we forget what traveling feels like. Nowadays people can fly from point A to point B so quickly that going coast to coast isn’t as daunting as it once was. You definitely don’t die of dysentery on the way.

But if you’ve driven or biked cross country, you know the toll trip takes on you. I know it. I’ve driven cross country a half asleep a handful of times. I’ve taken the Southwest Chief from Los Angeles to Chicago in what was single longest train ride of my life.

When playing The Oregon Trail on my iPhone , I was reminded me of this. It’s the idea of traveling as a journey.

Gameloft captured this feeling in the latest iteration of the classic learning game. Obviously, things have changed since the original appeared on the Apple IIe. This time around, the graphics are improved on Apple’s hand-held device. They sport a cartoonish look that you would see in some high-end Flash games. The sound is decent, but nothing spectacular.More on The Oregon Trail for the iPhone on the jump

Apple co-founder Steve "The Woz" Wozniak dips pro dancer Karina Smirnoff during his performance in last week's season opener.

Donning tails and tennies, the so-called “Teletubby” of dancing quick-stepped his way to a total of 17 points Monday night despite a fractured left foot.
Steve Wozniak charmed his way into the good graces of the judges with his energy, sweet attitude and warm personality.
The not-so-svelte Wozniak, who probably logged more time in the aisles of Fry’s than the aerobics studio of a 24-Hour Fitness before entering the competition, was told by a doctor that he likely injured his foot from bouncing around on it with his full weight during rehearsals.Continue Reading →

Well, he proved that they can — just not very well. He was awarded only 13 out of a possible 30 points from judges, landing him in last place behind 11 other “stars.”

One judge did have something nice to say. It was “heartwarming” to watch his performance, said Carrie Ann Inaba. “You are definitely what this competition is all about,” she added, referring to his constant smile and apparent love for life.

He didn’t do much for the geek stereotypes, though, as he was shown riding a Segway to his first meeting with his dance partner (Karina Smirnoff) and explaining his difficulty with the cha cha, saying “dancing is sort of analog.”

Overall, he came off as a sweetheart of a guy, which made it difficult to hear the other judges land some harsh criticism. Continue Reading →

Anyone who’s watched the show knows that moving on to the next week has little to do with how good a dancer someone is, and everything to do with the star’s fan-base and likeablity. From what I can see, Wozniack is likeable, so he’s got that going for him.

My buddy, Brian Tong from CNET, had an exclusive video interview with The Woz on his “The Applebyte” web cast. From the video, you can see that The Woz is taking his practice time seriously.

(Note to Woz: Black socks NEVER look good with dress shoes and shorts. I won’t even mention the knee pads … opps, never mind.)

Also, a Baltimore Sun blog says this is the number to call if you want to vote for The Woz after tonight’s show. Call 800-86834-10 (800-VOTE4-10), use your cell phone to text in the code 3410 or log in to the “Dancing with the Stars” website.

I didn’t know that there was a Dexter iPhone game in the works until these screenshots showed up in my inbox. From the looks of it, the title looks great for an iPhone game if those are actually gameplay shots and not some CG cut-scenes.

For those who aren’t in the know, Dexter is a TV show about a serial killer who basically fights crime in his own “special way.” For more, check out the screenshot on the jump.

So it makes me wonder how Apple will feel about a game that “will involve puzzle solving, stealth tactics, mini-games, and ‘slashing’ with the iPhone itself (using the accelerometer tech).” I’m crossing my fingers and hoping that the folks across the Bay don’t mind some stabbing as long as its for a good cause.More Dexter screenshots on the jump

One of the nagging regrets in my life is never finishing Oregon Trail. The old Apple II game was one of the few decent titles in the elementary school computer lab, and in the 30 minutes or so my classmates and I got to spend there, I never really had the chance to go from Independence, Mo., to Oregon’s Willamette Valley.

I was either slowed down by a broken axle or I had a hard time hunting after running out of food. What made me angrier than anything else was dying of dysentery though I didn’t know what that exactly meant when I was 7 years old. I knew it was bad mainly because family members passed away and I was one step closer to starting over again.

Because of these setbacks, I never saw the ending — it’s like reading a book halfway — but more than two decades later, I may finally be able to get to the promise land. Gameloft, the publisher known for its mobile phone games, is bringing this classic to the iPhone.

And from the looks of it, the update appears promising. Of course, with the power behind the system, Gameloft decided to update the graphics. Oregon Trail on the iPhone sports a cartoonish look. Along with the appearance, the developers also streamlined the gameplay.More on the Oregon Trail on the iPhone on the jump

I’m not a huge fan of iPhone games, but that’s starting to change for me. And no, I’m not talking about what everyone is talking about. Like Giant Bomb, I’m impressed with Solid Snake coming to the iPhone.

As for Solid Snake coming to Apple’s apparent gaming console, I have high hopes for it judging by the work Gameloft did with its own game. I’m sure Kojima Productions will use some of the iPhone’s other features like the camera and GPS.

Apple’s iTune Store has announced that has surpassed the 200 million mark in sales of individual TV episodes. That total includes just over 1 million episodes in high-definiotion.

Apple began offering HD television content last month, charging $2.99 per episode, compared with $1.99 for standard-definition shows.

The selection runs the gamut of CBS, ABC, NBC and Fox, mainly pulling from network studios, such as ABCâ€™s â€œGreyâ€™s Anatomyâ€ and NBC’s â€œ30 Rock.â€

â€œWeâ€™ve got an incredible fall 2008 TV lineup with over 70 prime-time comedies and dramas, including many of the most popular shows on TV in stunning HD,â€ Eddy Cue, Appleâ€™s VP of Internet services, told Television Week. â€œWith over 200 million episodes sold, iTunes customers have proven they love watching television on their computer, iPod, iPhone and TV with Apple TV.â€